Support for filter system

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a filter system for placement within a storm drain having a treater for treating water that flows into the storm drain, at least one bracket extending in a generally lateral direction from the treater for supporting the treater within the storm drain, and a director proximate to the at least one bracket for directing water toward the treater. The director has a generally vertical member perpendicular to the at least one bracket and a generally horizontal member extending from the generally vertical member toward the treater.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a filtration system and support for filters.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Storm drains placed in surfaces, such as streets and sidewalks, are often for draining water. However, because the water may contain debris and contaminants, the water may be treated before being placed back into the ocean or other bodies of water. For example, while drainage systems collect and direct rainwater and runoff to underground storm sewers to prevent flooding of streets, in some geographic regions, this untreated water is drained directly into the ocean not far from public beaches. Until relatively recently, it was not well appreciated that even residential runoff water can be highly contaminated and may pose serious threats to the environment and public health.

Typical storm drainage systems include drain inlets placed in streets and roadways and adjacent sidewalks. The drain inlet is commonly equipped with a removable iron grate that covers at least a portion of the inlet. In addition to providing a safety means, for example to prevent small children and animals from falling into the drain opening, the grate element is designed to prevent some of the relatively larger debris and trash items, such as tree branches, large paper or plastic containers, from entering the storm drain inlet. However, substantial volumes of relatively smaller trash items and debris, including lawn clippings, leaves, empty beverage containers, paper and plastic wrappers and the like, typically pass into storm drains despite use of iron grates. These items may eventually cause clogging of the drainage system if not periodically removed. In addition, such iron grates have been found to be ineffective in preventing gradual accumulation of solid materials that enter the drain inlet through open spaces between edges of the drain inlet and a perimeter of the grate element, such as in the opening in the curb.

Some assemblies have been developed for filtering a water flow entering drain system inlets. For example, a screen or other porous element may be placed below the grate element to collect smaller trash and debris. However, such systems are prone to becoming clogged with debris, thereby obstructing water flow into the storm drain. In addition, such assemblies have not been designed for screening relatively slow water flows into the drain inlet. A particularly slow water flow will often bypass the assembly entirely by seeping through unfiltered areas between edges of the assembly and the drain inlet, such as the curb opening.

Moreover, such periods of low water flow, especially following a relatively long “dry spell” tend to bring highly contaminated runoff water into the drains. This is due to long term accumulation of oils, automobile fluids, dust, dirt, lawn pesticides and other contaminants in the gutter areas of residential and industrial streets.

What is desired, therefore, is a filter system that inhibits debris of all sizes from entering a storm drain without increasing a likelihood of clogging. Another desire is a filter system that filters slow water flow as well as water that may otherwise go around traditionally designed filter systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a filter system that treats water without clogging.

Another object is a filter system that catches water that circumvents traditionally design filter systems.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved by a filter system for placement within a storm drain having a treater for treating water that flows into the storm drain, at least one bracket extending in a generally lateral direction from the treater for supporting the treater within the storm drain, and a director proximate to the at least one bracket for directing water toward the treater. The director has a generally vertical member perpendicular to the at least one bracket and a generally horizontal member extending from the generally vertical member toward the treater.

In other embodiments, the filter system also has a funnel placed between the treater and the at least one bracket and the director, where the funnel slopes downwardly from the at least one bracket and the director for directing water toward the treater. In some of these embodiments, the funnel includes a sloped member leading from each of the at least one bracket toward the treater. In further embodiments, the funnel includes a sloped member leading from the director toward the treater.

Optionally the filter system includes a front bracket opposite the director, wherein the front bracket has a generally vertical member generally perpendicular to the at least one bracket.

In another aspect of the invention, a support for a filter system that is placed within a storm drain includes a first bracket and a second bracket, each extending laterally. The support also has a director with a generally horizontal member placed between the first and second brackets and a generally vertical member being generally perpendicular to the generally horizontal member, the first bracket, and the second bracket. The support further includes a funnel sloping downwardly from the first bracket, the second bracket, and the generally horizontal member and adapted to be attached to a treater.

In some embodiments, the vertical member is adjustable in a horizontal direction relative to the horizontal member. In other embodiments, the horizontal member is adjustable in a vertical direction relative to the vertical member.

Optionally, the support also has a treater attached to the funnel for treating water. In some of these embodiments, the funnel includes a sloped member leading from each of the at least one bracket toward the treater. In further embodiments, the funnel includes a sloped member leading from the director toward the treater.

In yet another aspect of the invention, instead of the generally horizontal and generally vertical members of the director, a downwardly sloping member is placed between the first and second brackets where the sloping member is sloped toward the treater.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts the filter system in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 depicts an exploded view of the filter system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 more particularly depicts the director, funnel, and brackets shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 depicts another view of the director, funnel, and brackets shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 5-6 a depict cross sectional views of the director, funnel, and brackets shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 b depicts a cross sectional view of another embodiment of the director, funnel, and brackets shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 7 a-7 b depict adjustment of the director shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-2 depict filter system 20 in accordance with the invention, including first bracket 30, second bracket 40, front bracket 50, and director 60, all of which are adapted to be attached to treater 22. Treater 22 is any filter for treating the water and debris that enters storm drain 24 and includes any known or novel filter.

First bracket 30 extends from treater 22 in a generally lateral direction, such as a generally horizontal direction, for supporting treater 22 within storm drain 24. As shown in FIGS. 1-6 b and more particularly in FIGS. 4-6 b, first bracket 30 is attached to funnel 70 that in turn is attached to treater 22 via apertures 26. For the purposes of simplicity, and because second bracket 40 has the same limitations as first bracket 30, first bracket 30 will be described without referencing second bracket 40. Additionally, director 60 and front bracket 50 are also attached to funnel 70 that in turn is attached to treater 22.

As shown in FIGS. 4-6 b, funnel 70 has at least one sloped member and, as shown, four sloped members 71-74 leading from first bracket 30, director 60, second bracket 40, and front bracket 50, respectively, toward treater 22. Because storm drain 24 is generally of a standard size or sizes, the dimensions of first bracket 30, second bracket 40, front bracket 50, and director 60 may be determined before placing filter system 20 into storm drain 24. In fact, filter system 20 may be manufactured or assembled in mass quantities for application to a variety of standard sized storm drains 24.

Moreover, since treater 22 known to be placed within storm drain 24, it is generally smaller in length and width than storm drain 24. Funnel 70 acts as an adapter to bridge the gap between the difference in size from first bracket 30, second bracket 40, front bracket 50, and director 60 to treater 22. Moreover, first through fourth sloped members 71-74 of funnel 70 are sloped so water and debris do not collect on funnel 70 but are directed toward treater 22.

In some embodiments, first bracket 30 and director 60 are directly attached to treater 22, such as when treater 22 is in a larger size such that there is not need to have an adapter between first bracket 30, second bracket 40, director 60, and front bracket 50 to treater 22. Funnel 70 or the adapter is obviated when the slope of first, second, third, or fourth members 71-74 would be near vertical.

As shown in FIG. 2, storm drain 24 includes curb opening 25 as well as street opening 27 and water and debris may enter either or both. When water and debris enter through street opening 27, they generally fall between first and second brackets 30, 40 and enter treater 22. When water and debris enter curb opening 25, they may not enter between first and second brackets 30, 49 and therefore may bypass treater 22. To guard against this, director 60 is placed within curb opening 25 and includes generally vertical member 62 and generally horizontal member 64, both of which are for directing water and debris toward treater 22. As described above, generally horizontal member 64 of director 60 is attached to funnel 70 that in turn is attached to treater 22. In this fashion, water and debris enters curb opening 25, comes in contact with either vertical member 62 or horizontal member 64, both of which in turn are attached to second sloped member 72 which leads the water and debris toward treater 22. In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 6 b, director 60 has a sloped member 66, which replaces the vertical and horizontal members 62, 64. Moreover, horizontal member 64 or sloped member 66 can provide a secondary benefit to assist first bracket 30 and second bracket 50 in supporting treater 22. In this effort, director 60 is in contact with shoulder 86 of storm drain 24 in addition to first and second brackets 30, 40.

As shown in FIGS. 3-5, first bracket 30 is fabricated from the same piece of material as first sloped member 71. Similarly, director 60 is fabricated from the same unit of material as second sloped member 72. The same is true for second bracket 40 and third sloped material 73 as well as front bracket 50 and fourth sloped material 74. In further embodiments, first bracket 30 and director 60 are each an L shaped bracket or angle iron secured to first sloped member 71 and second sloped member 72, respectively.

In the embodiments when funnel 70 is not needed, angle irons or L brackets are particularly beneficial since fabrication is minimized and they would be directly attached to treater 22.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-6 b, 18 gauge 304 stainless steel is used to fabricate funnel 70, first bracket 30, second bracket 40, front bracket 50, and director 60 because it resists oxidation and is thin enough such that grate 82 is not raised or is negligibly raised due to the thickness of first bracket 30, second bracket 40, front bracket 50, and director 60 placed between grate 82 and shoulder 86 of storm drain 24. Typically, the thickness of first bracket 30, second bracket 40, front bracket 50, and director 60 are usually less than or equal to approximately ⅛ inch.

In another embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 a-7 b, director 60 is adjustable in both a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. As shown, first horizontal piece 61 of horizontal member 64 is slidingly engaged with second piece 63 of horizontal member 64. As shown, second horizontal piece 63 slides relative to first horizontal piece 61 from the position shown in FIG. 7 a to the position shown in FIG. 7 b where slot 88 and stud or bolt 84 permit securement of the two horizontal pieces anywhere along the length of slot 88. A nut placed on stud 84 permits the securement when the nut is screwed downwardly to bind the two horizontal pieces together.

Also as shown, top vertical piece 65 of vertical member 62 is slidingly engaged with bottom vertical piece 67 of vertical member 62. As shown, top vertical piece 65 slides upwardly or downwardly relative to bottom vertical piece 67 from the positions shown in FIG. 7 a to the position shown in FIG. 7 b. Once a position is chosen, a user then installs fastener 89, such as a nail, bolt, clamp, or rivet through the two vertical pieces. In other embodiments, an adhesive is used in addition to or instead of fastener 89 or nut and stud 84.

As shown, vertical member 62 is adjustable in a horizontal direction relative to horizontal member 64 and horizontal member 64 is adjustable in a vertical direction relative to vertical member 62.

It is understood that top and bottom vertical pieces 65, 67 may also slide in a horizontal direction relative to one another. This permits the two vertical pieces optimum flexibility to fit within storm drains 24 of non-standard size. It is also understood that the adjustments for top and bottom vertical pieces 65, 67 include the limitations of first and second horizontal pieces 61, 63. Likewise, the adjustments for first and second horizontal pieces 61, 63 include the limitations of top and bottom vertical pieces 65, 67. 

1. A filter system for placement within a storm drain, comprising: a treater for treating water that flows into the storm drain; at least one bracket extending in a generally lateral direction from said treater for supporting said treater within the storm drain; a director proximate to said at least one bracket for directing water toward said treater; and said director having a generally vertical member generally perpendicular to said at least one bracket and a generally horizontal member extending from said generally vertical member toward said treater.
 2. The filter system according to claim 1, further comprising a funnel sloping downwardly from said at least one bracket and said director for directing water toward said treater.
 3. The filter system according to claim 2, wherein said funnel includes a sloped member leading from each of said at least one bracket toward said treater.
 4. The filter system according to claim 2, wherein said funnel includes a sloped member leading from said director toward said treater.
 5. The filter system according to claim 2, said funnel is placed between said treater and said at least one bracket and said director.
 6. The filter system according to claim 1, further comprising a front bracket opposite said director.
 7. The filter system according to claim 6, wherein said front bracket has a generally vertical member generally perpendicular to said at least one bracket.
 8. A support for a filter system that is placed within a storm drain, comprising: a first bracket and a second bracket, each extending laterally; a director having a generally horizontal member placed between said first and second brackets; said director having a generally vertical member being generally perpendicular to said generally horizontal member, said first bracket, and said second bracket; and a funnel sloping downwardly from said first bracket, said second bracket, and said generally horizontal member and adapted to be attached to a treater.
 9. The support according to claim 8, wherein said vertical member is adjustable in a horizontal direction relative to said horizontal member.
 10. The support according to claim 8, wherein said horizontal member is adjustable in a vertical direction relative to said vertical member.
 11. The support according to claim 8, further comprising a treater attached to said funnel for treating water.
 12. The support according to claim 11, wherein said funnel includes a sloped member leading from each of said at least one bracket toward said treater.
 13. The support according to claim 11, wherein said funnel includes a sloped member leading from said director toward said treater.
 14. The support according to claim 11, wherein said funnel is placed between said treater and said at least one bracket and said director.
 15. A filter system for placement within a storm drain, comprising: a treater for treating water that flows into the storm drain; a first bracket and a second bracket, each extending in a generally lateral direction for supporting said treater within the storm drain; and a director placed between said first and second brackets and being sloped downwardly toward said treater.
 16. The filter system according to claim 15, further comprising a funnel sloping downwardly from said at least one bracket and said director for directing water toward said treater. 